Zachariah

I went to Eastern Europe last January where I had the privilege to the Mirga's. They live in a tiny Roma village without running water. This is the video I produced about them and their son Zachariasz (pronounce Za-har-y-osh). One correction to the video: Zachariasz is their 4th son, not their third. The first was still-born, the 2nd and 3rd both died from this same mystery disease.




I got this email this morning.

I am very sad to have to say this, Zachariah died last night.November 5, 2008.
Zachariah was a gift from God with a purpose!!!! We may not totally understand right now why he had to live a short life, but God's plans are perfect.
Zachariasz (His Roma name) caused many of us to be on our knees before God in petitioning prayer for many months. The many trips to the hospitals became times of Ola sharing her faith and the gospel message with many other parents who had very sick children too. Ola is a faithful wittiness for the Lord.Andrzej is a bold wittiness to all also.

Please pray for Ola & Andrzej Mirga as they arrange the funeral and suffer the physical loss of their son Zachariasz.
Please pray for God's grace & peace that passes all understanding.
Please pray that God will be glorified through all of this. Pray that the mouths of the mockers and unbelievers will be stopped. Pray that they will see God in this and not be confirmed in their minds that our God is not real.
Ola Mirga, last night told me to say to you all "Thank you all for your prayers for me and my family!!!!"
Z Bogiem, Jerry & family




Here's the prayer (and a couple of pics from the prayer exp) I wrote for Zachariasz last May that was prayed at all our camps.

LEADER: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
His love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
RESPONSE: “His love endures forever.”
LEADER: Let the house of Aaron say:
RESPONSE: “His love endures forever.”
LEADER: Let those who fear the LORD say:
RESPONSE: “His love endures forever.”


LEADER: Your love endures forever, regardless of life or death. Regardless of where we go or what we do, your love endures forever. We pray that your enduring love will crash over Andrzej, Ola, & Zechariah like a tidal flood. We pray that it soaks them through, that it saturates them, and that when they walk through their village of Szaflary, it drips off their fingertips and leaves puddles in their footprints; that Szaflary is marked, stained by the overflow of your love for these children of yours who cling to you with their very lives.
LEADER: In my anguish I cried out to the LORD,
And He answered me by setting me free.
RESPONSE: The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is with me; He is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
LEADER: Father, they have endured unimaginable anguish, and they cry out to you. We add our voices to theirs, fervently hoping and praying that you will hear and set them free. Set them free from the fear of losing their son. Be Andrzej’s helper, be Ola’s helper, give them triumph over their fears, over their anguish.
RESPONSE: It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in princes.
LEADER: Father the doctors are baffled. The hospitals have no answers. Andrzej & Ola’s only choice is to trust in you, to take refuge in your shadow. It’s in your hands. Any miracle, any cure comes from you. Only you can save Zechariah’s life.
And it’s easy to pray that you save Zechariah’s life. It’s easy and we pray it with urgency and expectation. Most High God will you please save this little boy’s life? Jehovah Rapha, in the name of Jesus, by the power of Christ, we pray that you will heal Zechariah.

But we also pray the hard prayer. Even as our hearts cry out for Zechariah’s life, we pray as Jesus did, on the Mount of Olives: we pray for your will. We pray for your glory. We pray that your desires are accomplished and that Andrzej & Ola will glorify you no matter the outcome.
Jesus Christ we trust that you hear our prayers and intercede on our behalf. Jesus Christ, you are the greatest of all time. Amen.


Please pray for Andrzej and Ola as they continue to love and serve their neighbors through this hard time.